Virgin Media Business to provide Birmingham with free wi-fi

Virgin Media Business is set to continue its drive into providing wireless networks by launching a free and unlimited Wi-Fi service in Birmingham’s city centre.

The UK’s second city is running Virgin's wi-fi networks after Leeds, Bradford, with Newcastle and Bristol undergoing trials of the service last summer. Rollout of the service will start in September, with more than one million people likely to benefit.

Virgin Media Business is using its small cell technology to power the wi-fi network. Operators will be able to piggyback onto these in order to provide 3G and 4G networks. Joint trials with operators will begin in the coming weeks, with the first commercial deployment expected in 2014.

Kevin Baughan, director of wireless, Virgin Media Business, said: ‘Over the past few years we’ve seen consumer demand for mobile data skyrocket as smartphone and tablet use has really come to the fore. By enabling the deployment of small cell technologies, we’re transforming the mobile broadband experience and ensuring that Birmingham stays on the leading edge of digital connectivity. This means that residents, visitors and businesses will gain access to a superfast mobile services and an unlimited free wi-fi service in the city centre for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.’